[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 68826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27944]



[[Page 68826]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11440; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, Western Archeological and Conservation 
Center, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Western 
Archeological and Conservation Center, have completed an inventory of 
human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, and have determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects may contact the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated below may 
occur if no additional claimants come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs at the address below by December 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Anna Pardo, Museum Program Manager/NAGPRA Coordinator, U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, 12220 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
Room 6084, Reston, VA 20191, telephone (703) 390-6343.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the 
physical custody of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, Tucson, AZ. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from sites 
on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County, AZ.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National 
Park Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes''').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1916, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unnamed site on the Gila River Indian Reservation 
in Pinal County, AZ, during the excavation of the Indian Hospital 
foundation. The human remains and associated funerary object were given 
to the National Park Service in 1916. Ownership was transferred to the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2012. No known individuals were identified. 
The one associated funerary object is a cremation jar.
    Between 1931 and 1934, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 
individuals were removed from unnamed sites on the Gila River Indian 
Reservation in Pinal County, AZ. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were given to the National Park Service in 1934. 
Ownership was transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2012. No 
known individuals were identified. The 22 associated funerary objects 
are 8 jars, 2 bowls, 1 plate, 1 shell bracelet, 8 unworked shell 
pieces, and 2 awls.
    The sites date to A.D. 975-1400. Oral tradition, historical 
records, ethnography, history, archeological evidence, and a cultural 
affiliation study indicate that The Tribes all have cultural ties to 
the sites from which the human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service

    Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Park 
Service have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 13 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 23 objects described 
above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Anna Pardo, Museum Program Manager/NAGPRA 
Coordinator, U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, 12220 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Room 6084, Reston, VA 20191, telephone (703) 390-
6343, before December 17, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 16, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-27944 Filed 11-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P